In place of the M3 Grease Gun

[Bravo11]

What type weapon are the tank crews using these days.
When I was in Armor we were issued M3 grease guns but that was in the '80's surely that can't still be using that POS.

 

[Kharn]

M4s, I believe.

Kharn

 

[AK103K]

Whats wrong with the M3A1?

 

[Jeff White]

The M4 carbine has replaced the M3 grease gun as BII (basic issue item) on armored vehicles. The M4 is nearly as compact as the M3, and it gives armored vehicle crews the same capability that a rifleman has.

Jeff

 

[Mike Irwin]

Well, a number of things make sticking with the grease gun less attractive these days, I'd say...

The design, and likely the guns themselves, are all pushing 60+ years old. There's a certain amount of wear and tear that can be expected, especially in a gun that's all stamped.

The M4 isn't much larger, but has greater range and flatter trajectory. Not to mention better sights.

The .45 ACP round isn't exactly general issue anymore.

 

[AK103K]

I meant why he thought it was a POS. The M3's I've shot always worked and were easy to shoot. I agree, the M4 makes more sense, just from the commonality of mags and ammo standpoint.

 

[Tommy Gunn]

A suppressed .45 calber submachine gun would be great for urban combat. Standard ammo is subsonic. It would be great with night vision and laser.

 

[WilderBill]

I beileive that the reason the M3 stayed around in tanks is that the M60 was an improved M48. The M48 was developed when the M3 was still in common service and the brackets to carry them in the tank stayed the same when the M60 came along.
It wasn't that the army was so very fond of the M3, they just didn't have anything better in that size when the M60 tank was designed and since the tank is the primary weapon it didn't matter that much anyway.

 

[Mk VII]

low-velocity rounds like .45 ACP are pretty ineffective against the body armor increasingly found on the modern battlefield.

 

[Echo23TC]

Well, National Guard Armor troops are issued M-9's and M-16A2's, at least in my unit. Hopefully we'll change to M-11's and M-4's someday soon.

 

[Detritus]

um pardon my ignorance... but, what's an M-11?? it's been awhile since i kept up with issue firearms.

 

[Echo23TC]

Basically it's the Sig P-228. I just want them because I personally like them better than the Beretta.




And, because they were supposed to be issued to Armor troops in the first place.

 

[jsalcedo]

Who are we fighting that has body armor?

M3 greasegun is a reliable, cheap and effective weapon.

I fired a grease gun a few days ago along with an MP5k

Both would be great for firing port weapons and close range anti personnel use.